La Derecha Diario Antisemitism is on the rise in Chicago, but the leftist mayor doesn't seem to care.
Brandon Johnson said he was 'alarmed,' but he himself has promoted hatred against Israel on numerous occasions
While the rest of the United States reports a general decrease in hate crimes, assaults against the Jewish community continue to rise. Chicago has become an emblematic case of this concerning trend.
According to a report presented by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, antisemitic hate crimes increased by 58% in 2024, reaching 79 incidents compared to the 50 recorded the previous year.
This jump occurs in a context of widespread decline: hate crimes in the city fell by 25% overall, with notable reductions in almost every category.
The most notable exception: attacks against Jews, which now account for 37.6% of all reported hate crimes in the city, even though the Jewish community makes up only 3% of the local population.
The municipal report details that of the 79 antisemitic hate crimes, 8% were physical assaults, 5% were attacks resulting in injuries, and 47% were criminal damage, such as vandalism of synagogues or Jewish businesses.
In 2024, Jews were the most targeted group for hate crimes in Chicago, surpassing African Americans (33 incidents, compared to 76 the previous year) and the gay male community (45 cases, compared to 36 in 2023). Hate crimes against Muslims (6) and against people of Arab origin (5) showed considerably lower figures.
From city hall, Brandon Johnson's office, a Democrat linked to the party's most left-wing faction, acknowledged that the rise in antisemitism is "especially concerning." However, he chose to highlight attacks against homosexuals first, which has caused criticism for downplaying an even more serious trend in absolute terms.
Johnson, who in January 2024 voted in favor of a municipal resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza—breaking a tie in the Council—, has been strongly questioned by the local Jewish community for his public stances.
In April, the Chicago Jewish Alliance described it as "outrageous" that the mayor posed with a keffiyeh scarf, a common symbol in anti-Israel protests.
The Consulate of Israel in the Midwest expressed its "deep disappointment" in August over Johnson's "continued support" for demonstrations against Israel, and in October described it as "incomprehensible" that the president of the city's Board of Education—appointed by the mayor—had published antisemitic content and content in support of Hamas.
In a country where antisemitism is reopening historical wounds, Chicago becomes a warning. Institutional tolerance, or even silence, can be the breeding ground for hatred to become normalized.
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